ar·hat \ˈär(ˌ)hət\noun alsoar·a·hat\ˈarə(ˌ)hət\; orar·a·hant\-ˌhant\ (-s) Usage: often capitalized Etymology: Sanskrit arhat, literally, deserving respect, from arhati he deserves; akin to Greek alphein to gain, Avestan arəzhaiti it is worth, Lithuanian algà wage, salary : a Buddhist monk who has attained Nirvana